Deadly minivan crash in northeast Thailand leaves one dead and 15 injured

A deadly minivan crash resulted in one fatality and left 15 individuals injured in the Sang Kha district of Surin, northeast Thailand. The incident unfolded on Sunday on No. 24 Road (Chokchai – Det-U-Dom Road) in Baan Santisuk, situated within the Phra Kaew sub-district. Emergency services swiftly arrived at the scene where they discovered an upturned minivan by the roadside.

The driver of the vehicle, 26 year old Siam Poomdee was found with moderate injuries. He told local media that he may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

“I was en route from Bangkok to Sisaket with 15 passengers. I may have drifted off while driving.”

The deadly minivan crash resulted in four individuals suffering from major injuries, while a further 11 people experienced minor ones. Among the passengers was 47 year old Nanthida Saenpang from Sisaket. She was later declared dead at a nearby hospital, reported Pattaya News.

In the aftermath of the accident, police are persisting with their investigation. They are seeking to determine the exact cause of the crash and to establish whether any legal action is warranted. The tragic incident underlines the importance of road safety and vigilance, particularly for those in charge of public transportation.

Road deaths are an all too familiar happening in Thailand. Only two weeks ago in nearby Nang Rong district, Buriram, a tragic accident claimed the lives of three individuals, including a four year old girl, her mother and stepfather, when the family was travelling by motorcycle and it collided with a pickup truck leading to an immediate fire.

The unfortunate event unfolded on the Sa Pradu-Thung Saeng Thong rural road in Tambon Thung Saeng Thong, Nang Rong district.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the pickup truck, driven by Pol Senior Sgt-Maj Kwanchai Pakchai, a retired police officer, was en route from Tambon Thung Saeng Thong to Nang Rong district town when it encountered the motorcycle. Read more about the story HERE.

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